New routes are rapidly opening into valuable and highly paid professional
careers

Over the past few years, a small revolution has taken place in the number and quantity of apprenticeships in Britain. This year marks the 650th anniversary of the first recorded apprentices, which were described as an unruly bunch by Chaucer. But until recently, apprenticeships were associated with an old model of heavy manufacturing that was in decline. They were seen simply as a route into a narrow range of jobs.

Yet recently the number of apprenticeships has boomed, with more than a million begun since the election. This is essential in tackling the skills shortage we currently have across a range of sectors, including plumbing and engineering. It will enable more people to progress in work.

Crucially, the quality of apprenticeships has been improving, too. In manufacturing, companies such as Rolls-Royce, Marshalls and BAE provide world-beating training within their apprenticeships.

Now we want to go further, offering apprenticeships instead of university, as a route into the professions including insurance, accounting, and law.

Britain excels at these professional services. They are critical for competing in the global race, representing 15 per cent of UK GDP, and 14 per cent of employment and exports. Fast-growing economies such as India are hungry for these high-quality services, and their markets are opening up.

To help us respond to this demand, and to ensure that everyone in Britain has the chance to reach their potential, we are opening up new routes into these highly paid and valuable jobs.

At the moment, to become qualified as a solicitor, accountant, or in insurance, the typical route involves three years at university, then on-the-job training and professional qualifications. But university is not for everyone. There is no reason why you can’t attain the same qualifications, without the degree, starting on-the-job training in an apprenticeship from day one.

So I want apprenticeships spanning craft, technical and professional jobs that open up work-based routes to the top.

There are successful higher apprenticeship schemes already in place, at levels four and five, equivalent to the first year of a degree course and foundation degree levels respectively. I now want to see more courses that truly match graduate and postgraduate qualifications.

From next year, apprenticeships at levels six and seven – bachelors and masters degree level – will be officially recognised for the first time.

I’m especially excited about a new law apprenticeship which BPP Law School is seeking to develop as an alternative to the traditional means of qualifying as a solicitor. It is in discussion with the relevant regulatory body and sector skills council, Skills for Justice, to advance its proposals.

In accountancy, PwC is developing the framework for the industry to offer a three-year masters-level apprenticeship that will lead to a professional qualification in audit, accountancy or tax. The development and delivery of these programmes has been a model of collaboration led by PwC, working with other sector employers, professional bodies, and further and higher education.

Higher apprenticeships, like all apprenticeships, are employer-led. So to ensure their success and go further, we need more employers to step up to take advantage of the opportunity.

For decades, Britain has been held back by artificial and counter-productive divisions between practical and academic learning, allowing countries such as Germany to get ahead in the global race for technical excellence. To close that gap, a rigorous core of academic study, including in English and maths, is a crucial starting point for every child. Then, opportunities such as these can break open the door to the professions for a wider part of our society.

For employers and potential employees, higher apprenticeships are an effective and prestigious alternative to a solely academic route into the professions. We need this diversity of pathways to better reflect the changing needs and ambitions of our nation.